Smoked salmon is a delicious food which is often considered to be a kind of delicacy because of its’ higher price and lesser availability. Despite the price tag, many consumers enjoy buying smoked salmon because of its’ smooth texture, great flavor, and a wider variety of options for usage. Smoked salmon can be used as a topping for bagels during breakfast, or as an addition to a sandwich for lunch. It can also be mashed into a paste, and served as an ingredient as apart of a dinner recipe.
There are a wide variety of uses for smoked salmon and that’s why it’s important to find the best deal because this product will come in handy. So, if you’re in the supermarket one day, and you see a big sale on a large package of smoked salmon, what should you do? If you’re the only person in your family or friend group who eats smoked salmon on a regular basis, should you worry then about your salmon going bad on you? If you would like to make this food product last as long as possible for consumption, can you freeze smoked salmon?
Can You Freeze Smoked Salmon?
The answer to this question is yes, you may freeze your smoked salmon to improve its’ longevity. It’s also a great way to preserve the texture, taste, and overall quality of the product as well. Frozen smoked salmon is often considered to be the freshest kind of salmon available since the freezing process likely occurred when the product was at the height of its overall freshness and quality. Some consumers like to buy frozen smoked salmon from the supermarket because of these qualities.
By following the steps and procedure of freezing smoked salmon correctly, you will have great results when the time comes to taste and enjoy this food product.
The Freezing Process
Before you go ahead and put your smoked salmon into the freezer, it’s important to remember to adhere to these necessary steps for the best possible results:
- Cut your smoked salmon up into small, thin slices if it was a whole, big piece when you first purchased it. This will make it easier to defrost the salmon more quickly. You can also take out of the freezer a little bit of salmon or a lot of salmon depending on how many guests you are going to be serving.
- After slicing the smoked salmon up, place the individual slices in two or more layers of plastic wrap and then wrap the product tightly in order to prevent freezer burn from occurring. It’s optional but an extra layer of aluminum foil may be useful in protecting the smoked salmon from the freezer burn as well.
- Put the sliced pieced of smoked salmon into different freezer bags, and make sure to seal these bags tightly and release any excess air before closing them up.
- Label and date all of the freezer bags of smoked salmon with the date of first freezing. Freezer bags can be taken out of the freezer on an individual basis depending on how much smoked salmon you want to use and consume.
It is up to the owner’s individual discretion how many slices of smoked salmon should be put into the freezer bag. It can be only one slice or up to five slices depending upon the individual’s preference. Individual slices of salmon won’t stick together during the freezing process so there’s no reason why they should be separated in the bags. You won’t need to place any barrier or object between the slices of smoked salmon as long as these bags are tightly sealed. Smoked salmon can last up to six months or more in the freezer without any problems occurring.
The Thawing Process
When you want to thaw out your smoked salmon from the freezer, remove the desired quantity of salmon that you wish to defrost and later use. Place your freezer bag(s) of salmon in the refrigerator immediately after removing the product from the freezer. Once the salmon has become completely defrosted, you may remove it from the refrigerator and it will be able to be eaten and enjoyed.
After the freezing and thawing process, it is important to consume the previously frozen smoked salmon right away for the best taste and quality. You should also never refreeze the smoked salmon that has already been frozen and thawed out beforehand. The smoked salmon that has gone through both the freezing and thawing processes should have as good a taste and overall quality as smoked salmon that is fresh and was recently bought from the supermarket.
Conclusion
Smoked salmon is a delicious addition to any breakfast, lunch or even dinner. While it may be expensive to eat, it is incredibly easy to freeze and preserve for many months, which will make your purchase worth it in the long run. The next time you see a great sale on smoked salmon, you’ll remember to buy it in bulk because you can rest assured that it can be frozen and last a while for you, your family, and your friends.
References:
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/cooking/q-and-a/a21270/smoked-salmon-2/
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5318853_can-freeze-smoked-salmon.html
https://www.reference.com/food/can-freeze-smoked-salmon-6db90b6facb0c75
